(19)
(11) EP 0 196 218 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
30.11.1988 Bulletin 1988/48

(43) Date of publication A2:
01.10.1986 Bulletin 1986/40

(21) Application number: 86302206

(22) Date of filing: 25.03.1986
(84) Designated Contracting States:
CH DE FR GB IT LI NL

(30) Priority: 25.03.1985 US 715458

(71) Applicant: Macken, John A.
 ()

(72) Inventor:
  • Macken, John A.
     ()

   


(54) Laser apparatus and method


(57) The present invention provides laser apparatus (10) having a cavity (24) which is at least partially bounded by two facing surfaces (16, 18) which are closely spaced and characterised by electrode means (36, 38) for establishing an electric field and an electric discharge (58) within the cavity (24) the orientation of the electricfield being substantially parallel to the facing surfaces (16, 18), and means (26, 28) for establishing a magnetic field within the cavity (24) with at least a major vector component substantially perpendicular to the facing surfaces (16, 18), the arrangement being such that in operation the electric discharge (58) extends between the said surfaces (16, 18) for a distance substantially greater than the separation of the said surfaces (16, 18).
The invention also privides a method of producing a substantially uniform broad area electric discharge including:

providing a gas filled cavity (24) between two relatively closely spaced surfaces (16, 18) and characterised by;

providing a magnetic field in a direction substantially orthogonal to said surfaces (16, 18); and

providing at least one electrical discharge (58) within said gas filled cavity (24) oriented with the electric field gradient thereof substantially parallel to said surfaces (16, 18) for enabling the action of said magnetic field to spread said discharge (58) substantially uniformly over a distance substantial greater than the separation of the said surface (16, 18).







Search report